Red ink over two private universities' progress report

BENGALURU: PES University in Banashankari and Reva University in Yelahanka have been found not functioning according to UGC norms. More than a year after they were established, two leading private universities in Bengaluru have found themselves on the wrong foot as the University Grants Commission (UGC) has discovered that they are not functioning as per norms.

Inadequate infrastructure, non-payment of UGC and State pay-scales, and transition troubles from institutes of technology to independent universities were cited as issues of non-compliance.

With thousands of students already on their rolls, the PES University in Banashankari and Reva University in Yelahanka now have two years to address the shortcomings before they can get a "letter of compliance" from the apex regulator, without which educationists say the quality of education they offer is "questionable".

Reva and PES were visited by UGC expert committees in April and October last year respectively. The apex body has announced on its website that they need to "take corrective measures and approach UGC after two years," effectively meaning that they fall short of required standards.

"The UGC's mandate is to ensure that universities maintain norms and standards. We issue a letter of compliance for universities that fully comply.But the committees have noted certain deficiencies (with respect to PES and Reva universities) and they have been given time," said UGC's section officer for private universities Naresh Kumar Sharma.

Expert committees inspect universities under the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003. The UGC panel found "teething problems" in PES, whereas Reva was asked to "start functioning based on the process of transaction".

"It is a new university. Obviously, there will be rules to comply with. One batch of students has to come out before complete operationalisation. We can offer degrees and the question of UGC approval doesn't arise," said KN Balasubramanya Murthy, vice-chancellor of PES University run by former MLC MR Doreswamy.

The PES University and Reva University have their own engineering colleges running on the same campus affiliated to the Visvesvaraya Technological University. So they have students under two different universities studying on the same campus. "We have taken a decision to phase out admission in the Reva Institute of Technology and Management. We were forced to make dual admissions by the government last year, so we could not show this as a part of our university infrastruc ture," said VG Talawar, vice-chancellor of Reva University founded by businessman P Shyama Raju.

Former vice-chancellor of the Karnataka State Open University, NS Ramegowda told ET: "Without compliance, the degrees of these universities may not be nationally-accepted."

Both universities say their degrees are recognised because they were set up through an Act passed by the Karnataka Legislature. But Bharat Lal Meena, principal secretary, higher education, said non-compliance with the UGC norms is a concern. "The government cannot directly intervene as they are private universities, but they have to follow UGC guidelines. If there are concerns, then it certainly is a matter of concern for students."